Nature produces an endless array of colors, shapes, and patterns that creatures use to fool the eye. These animals become visible only when they move or are in contrasting surroundings. Creatures may disguise themselves to blend in by changing color on demand or with the seasons, allowing plants to grow on them, or by evolving to look like something else.
The chameleon is known for changing its colors, but many other animals also have this ability, including bugs, fish, octopuses, foxes, and rabbits. Some creatures hide in plain sight by resembling leaves and twigs, or by using disruptive patterning to blend in when needed. Artists explore this marvel of camouflage and adaptation.
Blue Cayman Iguana
Amanda Preston Araujo
Durango, Colorado, USA
Size: 29 x 33 in (74 x 84 cm)
Hidden In the Crowd
Patricia Arensen
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Size: 42 x 40 in (107 x 102 cm)
Colorful Drama
Barbara Arguedas
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Size: 20 x 24 in (51 x 61 cm)
I Spy an Elephant
Carol Bridges
Missoula, Montana, USA
Size: 31 x 19 in (79 x 48 cm)
Marbled Salamanders
Susan Brubaker Knapp
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Size: 30 x 30 in (76 x 76 cm)
Lost and Found
Laurie J. Bucher
Rancho Palos Verdes, California, USA
Size: 33 x 36 in (84 x 91 cm)
Island
Betty Busby
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Size: 61 x 38 in (155 x 97 cm)
Poetic Camouflage
Shin-hee Chin
McPherson, Kansas, USA
Size: 38 x 21 in (97 x 53 cm)
Dog Gone
Vicki Conley
Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, USA
Size: 42 x 43 in (107 x 109 cm)
Camouflage
Yael David-Cohen
London, United Kingdom
Size: 36 x 57 in (91 x 145 cm)
Twilight Flight
Janet Ruth Davis
Alamosa, Colorado, USA
Size: 32 x 32 in (81 x 81 cm)
Orchid Praying Mantis
Jennifer Day
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Size: 33 x 24 in (84 x 61 cm)
Waterhole Camouflage
Rhonda Suzanne Denney
Emporia, Kansas, USA
Size: 21 x 19 in (53 x 48 cm)
Personal Transparency
Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry
Port Townsend, Washington, USA
Size: 41 x 33 in (104 x 84 cm)
The (Canyon) Walls Have Eyes
Nancy K. Fisher
San Angelo, Texas, USA
Size: 25 x 39 in (64 x 99 cm)
Flamenco Dance
Debra Goley
Goodyear, Arizona, USA
Size: 42 x 36 in (107 x 91 cm)
Hidden Harmony
Susie Goodman
Bloomington, Indiana, USA
Size: 34 x 26 in (86 x 66 cm)
Snowy Owl
Kim Keller
Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
Size: 30 x 24 in (76 x 61 cm)
Earning my Stripes
Darlene M. Khosrowpour
Pflugerville, Texas, USA
Size: 12 x 12 in (30 x 30 cm)
Dude!
Margaret Knepper
Melbourne, Florida, USA
Size: 10 x 15 in (25 x 38 cm)
Hopeful
Deborah A. Kuster
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, USA
Size: 9 x 8 x 8 in (23 x 20 x 20 cm)
Into the Wild!, var.2
Mary-Ellen Latino
Arroyo Grande, California, USA
Size: 35 x 66 in (89 x 168 cm)
Threatened
Tracey Lawko
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Size: 12 x 17 in (30 x 43 cm)
Spot the Dot
Paola Machetta
Trieste, Italy
Size: 40 x 35 in (102 x 89 cm)
Janine Heschel2 (Octo Camo)
Fuzzy Mall
Dundas, Ontario, Canada
Size: 89 x 71 in (226 x 180 cm)
Don't Close Your Eyes
Lena Meszaros
Orsay, Essonne, France
Size: 28 x 26 in (71 x 66 cm)
Peacock Coat
Karen Illman Miller
Corvallis, Oregon, USA
Size: 56 x 62 x 2 in (142 x 157 x 5 cm)
Bothus
Lindsay Olson
Oak Park, Illinois, USA
Size: 18 x 18 in (46 x 46 cm)
Watching and Waiting
Claire Passmore
Balaclava, Mauritius
Size: 39 x 51 in (99 x 130 cm)
Uncompahgre Fritillary - An Endangered Pollinator
Luana Rubin
Boulder, Colorado, USA
Size: 42 x 60 in (107 x 152 cm)
His Leafy Refuge
Sara Sharp
Austin, Texas, USA
Size: 27 x 26 in (69 x 66 cm)
Just Add Color
Amanda Snavely
West Linn, Oregon, USA
Size: 93 x 34 in (236 x 86 cm)
Walking Into Crestwood
Maggie Vanderweit
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Size: 50 x 72 in (127 x 183 cm)
Green Pepper and Gecko
Mieko Washio
Yao-shi, Osaka, Japan
Size: 62 x 45 in (157 x 114 cm)
In Plain Sight
Lisa Yahne
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Size: 46 x 39 in (117 x 99 cm)
Mutual Life of the Universe
Marian Zielinski
Macon, Georgia, USA
Size: 35 x 41 in (89 x 104 cm)